The three generations of grandparents and grandchildren sat cross-legged on the Arhat bed.
"The horoscopes are compatible, and she's destined to bring prosperity to her husband," said Old Mrs. Wei. "Your father plans to marry her. The wedding will take place in about two months, and we need to choose an auspicious day."
Yining raised her eyebrows: "So anxious?"
Old Madam Wei handed her the box of almonds. "These almonds have a milky aroma and are especially delicious. Take a few boxes back with you later." She added, "You know your father. He does whatever he says. But Miss Xu's parents died young, and she has only her brother, Duke Xu, to take care of her. Although she is doted on by her brothers and sisters-in-law at home, she is already seventeen years old, so it would be best for her to marry early."
Mrs. Wei said, "Don't worry, it will be the same when you come back."
Is she worried that her stepmother will treat her badly?
Yi Ning smiled bitterly. Her life had been filled with misfortunes. This was her third stepmother, a young girl not much older than her. "Did father just agree to this? I thought he would wait a long time."
"You advised him, but he still wouldn't listen!" Old Madam Wei laughed. Besides, her health was indeed getting worse. Yining was getting married, and Mingzhu was an outsider who couldn't interfere in the Duke of Ying's mansion. There was no other way.
Zhao Mingzhu said to her, "Yining, your uncle has also made some clothes and jewelry for you, and will bring them back to you later."
As a result, when Yining came back from her mother's house, her carriage was piled high with things.
Yi Ning couldn't help but think of the past. When she returned from the Marquis's Mansion, the family treated her with respect and courtesy, as if she were a stranger. This was what a mother's family should be like. If it weren't for the requirement to not sleep in separate beds for the first month of the wedding, they would definitely have kept her for ten days or half a month.
"Madam, are we going back?" asked the guard outside.
Yining thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to Xiangyun Restaurant."
She wanted to see what Xie Yun was going to do.
The carriage pulled into the Xiangyun Society, a place where women often came and went, so the entrance was strictly controlled. Yi Ning handed in Luo Shenyuan's name card before she was allowed in. She had been there before and knew that this was Lord Luo's wife. The maidservant respectfully led her upstairs.
"Is Miss Xie here?" Yining asked the maid.
The maid bowed and said, "Miss Xie is here. She just went downstairs with the lady. I will pass on a message to you."
Yining moved to the railing and saw a person standing next to the pomegranate tree at the foot of the steps.
The woman wore a cape, her hair tied in a simple bun, devoid of any ornamentation. Although nearing middle age, she possessed an elegant demeanor and wore simple clothing. Two little girls stood behind her, and she was looking up at the pomegranates growing on the tree, her expression gentle and calm.
"Madam, the flowers over there are blooming so beautifully. Why don't you go over there and take a look..." The little girl behind her advised her.
Yi Ning heard a lady from an aristocratic family whisper behind her: "Why did this person come out..."
"Isn't it said that those who eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures are unwilling to go out now? He looks sickly, and I don't know what happened to him all these years."
"Her husband died like this, leaving her alone is really pitiful..."
"Why should I feel sorry for him? He killed someone before. This is retribution for what he's doing now."
The man seemed to have heard someone talking about her and looked up through the railing. He took the girl's hand and said, "Let's go."
Yi Ning's face remained calm, but her heart was in turmoil. This person was the one she knew best, how could she not be familiar with him? This was Xie Min, the wife of the former Ningyuan Marquis' son, her eldest sister-in-law.
When she first married into the Ningyuan Marquisate, Xie Min was already well-known in the capital. She was the eldest daughter of the Xie family and was extremely talented, just like Xie Yun today. In fact, Xie Yun was not as good as her. Back then, she was truly unmatched.
At first, Xie Min didn't take her seriously, and their interactions were superficial. Later, Yining was murdered, perishing on a cliff, and trapped in the jade hairpin for more than 20 years, witnessing every change in the world.
Xie Min fell from the clouds, her husband was killed by Lu Jiaxue, and she no longer cared about worldly affairs.
A wry smile played at the corners of Yining's mouth. Those days in the side courtyard, listening to the chanting, like trapped animals, seemed vivid in her mind. She gripped the railing tightly, her hands turning white. It was Xie Min!
She looked at Xie Min's back. Then someone came over, took Xie Min's arm affectionately, and said with a smile, "Aunt, the show isn't over yet. Why are you coming downstairs?"
It’s Xie Yun.
Xie Min smiled at Xie Yun and said, "It's too noisy, come out and get some fresh air."
"You think it's noisy, but I think it's lively." Xie Yun continued, "It's rare for you to leave the house, so please accompany me well."
Xie Min's child died of an acute illness when he was young, so she had to be nicer to Xie Yun, otherwise how could she be allowed to leave the house? She really hated these people outside.
"Then let's go back." She said slowly, her voice a little hoarse. Xie Yun helped Xie Min up the stairs.
The attic staircase in Xiangyunshe was narrow and noisy, but Xie Min's footsteps were exceptionally light. Yining took a deep breath, turned sideways, and looked at the green ivy on the high mahogany table, waiting for the two to approach.
The footsteps gradually approached, reaching Yining's side. Xie Min was about to pass by her, but for some reason she suddenly stopped, and then she said softly, "Madam, you look familiar to me."
Xie Yun naturally saw Yi Ning, and she felt uncomfortable when she thought about Luo Shenyuan's incident that day. But according to her personality, she didn't want to argue with Yi Ning. She said, "Aunt, this is the wife of the Minister of Works, Lord Luo, the daughter of the Duke of Yingguo's mansion."
Yining then turned around and looked at Xie Min. Xie Min's gaze was gentle, but it felt as cold as water when it fell on her body.
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